Board of Deputies launches Jewish Manifesto for Local Government

The Jewish Manifesto for Local Government, the definitive document for councillors and candidates who wish to serve Jewish residents in their wards and boroughs, was launched in Leeds yesterday.

The document, which has been collated by the Board of Deputies of British Jews after consultation with more than 250 community organisations, is being sent to candidates across the country ahead of 2018’s local elections on May 3, which will see local elections in boroughs with some of the largest Jewish communities in the country, including councils in London, Greater Manchester and Leeds.

Policies outlined in the document include:

• Calling on all local councils to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism.
• To ensure that councils appoint coroners who are sensitive to the needs of Jewish communities.
• Support for Jewish schools, welfare services and housing provision.

Councillors are being asked to endorse the Manifesto’s #TenLocalCommitments, which sum up all of the community’s policy priorities.

It was launched at the Local Government Seminar on the Jewish Community in Yorkshire, held jointly with the Jewish Leadership Council and the Leeds Jewish Representative Council.

Councillors from Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire attended, including the Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Susan Hinchcliffe, the Deputy Leader of Leeds Council, James Lewis, and the Lady Mayoress of York, Barbara Boyce.

Following the launch, Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron said: “It is critical for the Jewish community to make its voice heard in local authorities, particularly on crucial issues such as coroners’ services and antisemitism. This Jewish Manifesto for Local Government will ensure that councillors and candidates know how about the issues that matter to their Jewish residents. And ahead of this year’s elections around the country we will be urging candidates to endorse our 10 Local Commitments, which summarise the community’s priorities.”

Read the manifesto here.